Electrical connection



Nov. 29, 1949 F. F. GUNTHER ELECT RICAL CONNECTION Original Filed Nov. 5. 1945 23550521121 FGll/lT/IER Reissued Nov. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 23, 173 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION Frederick F. Gunther, Chicago, 11]., assignor to Helmco, Inc., Chicago,

Illinois 111., a corporation of 4 Claims. 1 The present invention relates to an electrical connection and more particularly to the mounting of the socket member of a separable electric connector in such manner that the socket member may swing as the plug member is withdrawn from it.

Soda fountains, lunch counters, and other places where short order meals are served utilize electrically heated cup-s for heating soups, milk, fudge, chocolate and the like, the cups being filled with the liquid to be heated and provided with the prongs of the plug member of a separable connector. The socket member is supported in a fixed manner, the cup being applied to and removed from the socket by push-pull movement. It oftentimes happens that an attendant, being in a hurry, while walking along a counter will grab the handle of a cup to disconnect it from the socket, while continuing walking. This imposes a sidewise strain between the prongs of the plug member and the sleeves of the receptacle or socket member, oftentimes breaking the receptacle members, thus requiring replacement.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a swivel mounting for the receptacle or socket of a two-part separable electrical connector used for the purposes above enumerated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a swivel mounting for the receptacle or socket member of a two-part separable electrical connector whereby separation of the plug member from the receptacle member in any except a straight-line direction will cause the receptacle member to swing to maintain the prongs of the plug member and the sleeves of the receptacle member in alignment until the plug member is completely disconnected.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a swivel mounting for the receptacle or socket member of a two-part separable electrical connector so that the receptacle member may swing if, during the withdrawal of the plug member, sidewise strain is applied to the plug member.

The above, other further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.

An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and the vlews'thereof are as follows:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a cup equipped with the prongs of a plug member of a separable connector applied to a socket of the present nvfi t l f Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a swivelly supported receptacle member with enlarged side elevational view of the receptacle member, showing its manner of mounting to produce swivel action.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the receptacle and showing its relation to the margins of the openings through which it projects.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the receptacle or socket, showing different angular positions it may assume.

V Figure 515 a plan view of one of the bent spring fingers for supporting the receptacle in position.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the inside plate which supports the receptacle in position.

The drawing will now be explained.

Referring to Figure 1, a cup I0 is provided with prongs II and 12 for entering the sleeve conductors l3 and Id of the receptacle A. The cup I 0 is equipped with suitable resistance wiring to heat the contents thereof when the cup is placed in connection with an electrical circuit by the receptacle A. A handle I5 is mounted on the cup for ease in handling.

The receptacle A is of a known form, comprising two similar parts 16 and I1 separable along a median line and containing the conductor sleeves l3 and M to which conductor wires 18 and I9 are connected in the usual manner- The two parts I6 and I1 are held together by bolts passing through them and engaging nuts, the heads of the bolts and the nuts being in recesses to prevent short-circuiting.

In adapting such receptacle member for use in the present invention, a piece of suitable material, as a casing, is folded about the exterior oi the receptacle with the ends overlapping and held in place by bolts 2! and 22 passing through the receptacle and casing in lieu of the bolts ordinarily used to hold together the parts I6 and I! of the receptacle. The casing zfl has an extension 23 to receive the bolt 22 passing through the parts l6 and I! of the receptacle. 7

It is to be understood that the casing 20 is applied after the conductor wires I8 and I9 have been connected to the sleeves I3 and I4, and the parts l6 and I! assembled.

The casing 20 is provided with two pins 25 and 26 projecting from opposite margins of the receptable to constitute trunnions for mounting the receptacle to swing.

The receptacle is illustrated as mounted in a partition or wall 21, there being a suitable aperture 28 of proper size made in the partition 21.

While not essential, there is illustrated a slotted plate 29 secured to the rear surface of the partition wall 27 and having an opening 30 to conform to the opening 28 in the partition 21. The plate 29 is provided with upper and lower bent ends 3| and 32, with the extremities 33 and 34 thereof bent inwardly towards the plate. Each of these ends apertured at 35' to receive one of the pins on the casing 20 so as to swivelly mount the receptacle in the plate. Bending of the ends in the manner stated creates a spring effect so as to assure engagement of the pinswith. the apertures in the fingers to hold the socket member in position for use. I

The receptacle is installed, by pushing the pins between the extremities of the fingers 3| and 32 so that these recede until the pins engage the apertures, whereupon the extremities spring into holding engagement with the pins and exert a slight frictional engagement against the casing The width of the opening 28 in thepartition 2'! and the corresponding opening or slot 30- in'the plate 29: determines the extent of lateral: swing or the receptacle, the width being greater than the thickness: of the socket.

The parts are so arranged that when the receptable or socket is in place the end thereof which receives the. prongs H and I 2 of the plug connector projects a slight distance beyond the surface of the'partition or wall 21, as may be observed in Figures 1 and 2;

When it is desired to heat a liquid in the cup l, the-cup is filled with the liquid and the'nthe attendant attaches the cup to a receptacle A supported in the partition. or wall 21, in the manner heretofore described; After a sufiic'ient length of time has elapsed the operator withdraws the cup from the receptacle by grasping the handle l and pulling the cup. Sometimes the operator will withdraw the cup while walking along theycounter, thus: tending to swing the handle of the cup in the direction she is moving. Such tendency to swing the cup imposes sidewise strain on the receptacle. Receptacle A, being pivoted or swiveled, will thus accommodate itself to the movement of the cup, so that the cup may be withdrawn in straight-line direction, thereby preventlng any damage whatsoever to the receptacle or prongs H and l-Z.

While the. invention has been described in connection with an electrically heated cup for fountam or lunch counter use, nevertheless it is to be understood that the invention is not limited by such use, as the invention canbeused wherever t s necessar or desirable to mount the receptacle member of a two-part separable electrical connector for swinging movement.

The receptacle has. herein been illustrated The invention has been described h Q or less precisely as to details, but it is tfifiirfi stood that the invention is. not to be limited thereby, since changes may be made in the arrangement or proportion of parts, and equiva- Ients may be substituted, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

If cfiaim as my invention:

swivel electrical connector for comprising a vertically disposed wal? having an elongated aperture through it, a

saidone part on said wall with said part projecting through said aperture.

2 In a wall bracket for mounting the female portion of a two-part electrical connection having pivot pins in the casing thereof, the improvement which comprises a plate having means for Y securement to the wall and having an elongated aperture therethrough, spring members secured to said plate having spaced apart confronting end portions adjacent opposite ends of the aperture, said spring members having openings for receiving the pivot pins in pivoting relation and for preventing movement of, the female portion away from the wall, said spring members being movable. away from each other for facilitating the positioning of the pivot pins therein.

3. In a wall. bracket for mounting the female portion. of, a two-part electrical connection having pivot pins in the casing thereof, the improvement which comprises a plate having means for securement to the wall and having an aperture larger than the cross-section of said, female portion to freely receive the same. therein, members secured to said plate providing spaced apart confronting cars at the oppositev ends of said aperture, said ears having openings for receiving the. pivot pins toswivelly mount. and retain said female portion within. said aperture.-

4, A swivel electrical connector for a hot cup comprising a vertically disposed wall member having an aperture therethrough, a female portion of said electrical connector in said aperture, and spaced apart arm members having means for securement to. the wall member at opposite sides of said aperture and having aligned openings, mounting plate portions on opposite sides of said female portion, fastening means for mounting said plate portions on said female portion, and pins on said plate portions arranged for pivotal engagement in said aligned openings to mount said female portion for swiveling movement within, the wall member aperture.

FREDERICK F. GUNTHER REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,137,773 Marsden May 4, 1915 1,169,190 Platt Jan. 25, 1916 1,410,651 Caps Mar. 28, 1922 1,648,709 Winsell Nov. 8, 1927 1,854,865 Snyder Apr. 19,1932 1,909,708 Neuwirth May 16, 1933 2,001,406 Akers May 14, 1935 2,259,072 McDowell Oct. 14,1941

10 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 602,648 France Mar. 23, 1926 

